PLANT MEDICINE SECTION
Don’t Go Breaking Your Heart by J. Garnet
T
he month of February is for lovers. On the 14th, young and old alike give their hearts away to their valentine—a special someone who brings a twinkle to the eye and butterflies to the belly. Obviously, people aren’t giving their actual hearts away, but a symbolic one that represents love. Speaking literally now, if the heart represents love, how is it that people are willing to give their hearts away, their love, if they are faulty, damaged or diseased? The adage, “you must love yourself before you can love another” can come into play here. Perhaps the best gift we can give to someone we love is a healthy heart. How did the most important organ in the body become the representation of love and emotion? In ancient Egypt, the heart was believed to be the center of human emotion. It was discovered that the heart rate changed based on different emotions. Fear, sadness, happiness and love all affect 32
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how the heart beats. It makes sense that if the heart is where love is stored, it should be shared or given to someone who is loved. But how did the heart symbol that is recognized the world over get its shape? The heart muscle certainly doesn’t look anything like the ideograph that represents it. The shape of the symbolic heart has a history that’s shaded in mystery. There are a number of theories surrounding how the shape came to resemble the organ and none can be proven. The first sightings of the familiar heart shape can be seen in European art dating back to the 1400s. Prior to that, the heart was depicted in more of a pinecone shape. No matter how it came to be, it’s known around the world. The emoticon found on social networks is pressed millions of times a day to show that a post is loved, adored or admired. Pressing the heart button means much more than just
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hitting the “like” button. A heart-shaped box that’s full of chocolates, supposedly, means more to someone than just a standard rectangular box of candy. The heart has a special meaning. It has strength, both symbolically and literally. If there is a defect within the workings of the heart, major health issues can occur, leading to death. It’s a serious topic and a widespread problem in the U.S. A study conducted by the American Heart Association revealed that almost half of adult Americans, 122 million people, suffer from some form of heart disease. It’s probably not the most romantic of topics given that it’s the month of love and affection, but before any symbolic heart is given to someone out of love, be certain that the heart beating in the chest is healthy. It’ll mean so much more. There are many ways to keep the heart healthy and working optimally. Doctors have been saying for centuries that diet and exercise are the best way to keep a healthy heart pumping. Last month was the beginning of a new year. Many people resolved to exercise more, eat better and get healthier. Keeping a narrow focus on heart health is perhaps the best way to love. The heart is primarily made up of cardiac muscle. Like every muscle, in order to remain healthy and fit, it must be worked out. Food can affect the heart in a very positive way. Fruits, vegetables and spices can help maintain the heart and can even stimulate exercise-like reactions. A normal resting heartbeat for the average adult is 60 to 100 beats per minute. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, in order to maintain a healthy heart, adults should be exercising it by increasing the pulse rate. On a weekly basis, we should be getting between 2 and 4 hours of moderate exercise, or 1 to 2 hours of high intensity exercise.
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